Climate finance is an essential pillar of U.S. engagement in the global fight against climate change. Finance for climate resilience helps protect the most vulnerable populations, while finance for clean energy helps prevent further climate change and the associated damage around the globe. The United States therefore has a history of financially supporting climate efforts. It pledged $3 billion to the Green Climate Fund, for example, and has delivered a third of this pledge.
Since the announcement that the U.S. administration intends to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, climate initiatives among states, cities, and businesses have flourished in the United States. To date, these efforts have tended to focus on domestic emissions reductions. U.S. nonfederal actors, however, are increasingly focused on finance in order to fully support the goals of the Paris Agreement. This event will bring together U.S. climate leaders to discuss opportunities for the United States to remain engaged in climate finance.
Welcoming remarks:
Gwynne Taraska, Associate Director of Energy and Environment Policy, Center for American Progress
Opening remarks:
Former Vice President Al Gore, Chairman, The Climate Reality Project
Conversation on national-level finance and states pursuing the goals of the Paris Agreement:
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR)
Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D-VA)
Moderated by:
Manish Bapna, Executive Vice President and Managing Director, World Resources Institute
Featured panelists:
Frank Klipsch, Mayor of Davenport, Iowa, and Co-Chair, Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative
Daniel Zarrilli, Senior Director of Climate Policy and Programs and Chief Resilience Officer, New York City Office of the Mayor
Valerie Smith, Director and Head of Corporate Sustainability, Citi
Kevin Rabinovitch, Global Vice President of Sustainability and Chief Climate Officer, Mars, Inc.
Moderated by:
Paul Simpson, Chief Executive Officer, CDP
For further information please see these recent reports on U.S. involvement in international climate finance: